Larger Airbus planes of Wizzair at airports in Belgrade and Skopje

The Hungarian low-cost airline Wizzair has started the process of completely replacing its fleet at its bases in Belgrade and Skopje, switching to larger and more modern Airbus A321neo aircraft. This transition, which is part of the company’s long-term strategy, is being implemented after months of challenges caused by global problems with Pratt & WhitneyGTF engines, which in the second half of last year led to the temporary grounding of part of the A320neo family, writes ExYuAviationNews.

The replacement of older A320 aircraft has already begun in Belgrade, and the process will be rounded off with the arrival of the fourth A321neo aircraft in June this year. As announced by Belgrade Airport, this change will enable Wizzair’s capacity on the Serbian market to return to the level of 2023. In the peak summer season during July and August, the number of places available is expected to increase by more than 40 percent compared to the same period last year.

A similar change is expected in Skopje, where Wizzair will replace the remaining A320 aircraft with A321neo models by November. Already during April and May, new lines will be established from Skopje to Lyon and Barcelona, while the start of flights to Stuttgart is planned for September.

However, this year’s summer season will see a reduced offer for passengers from Skopje compared to the previous one, since the company no longer plans to operate to destinations such as Salzburg, Copenhagen, Cologne, Budapest, Bremen and Skavsta, which were part of the regular network last year. The loss of these lines also means a reduction in the total number of weekly rotations, but Wizzair apparently expects that the increase in capacity per flight will compensate for the reduced number of frequencies.

The engine problems that hit the global airline industry in late 2023 forced many carriers to temporarily change operational plans. In order to maintain regular traffic, Wizzair relied on older A320ceo models that it had already planned to retire. With engine inspection delays now reduced and new aircraft deliveries resumed, the company is returning to implementing its strategic decision to switch to larger capacity aircraft.

The introduction of the A321neo aircraft, which have almost 60 more seats compared to the A320, allows the company to carry more passengers with the same number of rotations, reduce fuel consumption per seat and further improve the environmental sustainability of operations. This modernization indicates the carrier’s intention to remain one of the key players in the region’s air traffic in the long term, with a focus on greater efficiency and expansion of the offer from its main bases in the Balkans.

WIZZ AIR HUNGARY LTD OGRANAK U BEOGRADU

A.D. Aerodrom Nikola Tesla Beograd

Wizzair

replacement of Wizzair fleet at bases in Belgrade and Skopje

Airbus A321neo

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport